Machine for setting up box blanks



June 6, 1950 PERlLLl 2,510,251

' MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLANKS Filed Feb. 15, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 6, 1950 PERlLLl 2,510,251

' MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLANKS Filed Feb. 15, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 r-1 '-r l l I w: l I I & H {mm 7 a E,

June 6, 1950 L. PERILLI 2,510,251

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLANKS Filed Feb. 15, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 6, 1950 L. PERILLI 2,510,251

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLANKS Sheets-Sheet 4 June 6, 1950 L. PERlLLl MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLANKS Filed Feb. 15, 1947 VII/III 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June'6, 1950 Filed Feb. 15, 1947 MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet e June 6, 1950 PERlLLl MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX ,BLANKS '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 15, 1947 Patented June 6, 1950 MACHINE FOR SETTING UP BOX BLANKS Louis .Perilli, Waltham, Mass, assignor to Associated Folding Box 00., South Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 15, 1947, Serial No. 728,939

19 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for setting up'rec'tangular box blanks each comprising a bottom wall together with folded side and end walls. The ends of the blanks are constructed with portions on the side and end walls for forming the end walls of the box and so inter-engaging the side and end walls as to provide a strong and mutual support therefor. The primary object of the invention resides in the production of an improved machine for feeding the blanks individually from a magazine along a predetermined path and opening and inter-engaging the side and end walls while supporting the blank in such path.

The blank comprises a bottom wall together with side walls folded flatly thereonto and an end 2 wall portion at each end comprising an end wall panel and a locking flap integral therewith along a creased line, and the machine comprising the invention is adapted to feed the blanks individually from the magazine, raise the end and side panels and thereafter fold the locking flaps inwardly into interlocking engagement with the blank in which position they are disposed flatly against the inner faces of the end walls and secure the walls of the box in their set-up position. The production of a machine for automatically performing these functions comprises a further object of the invention.

The side and end portions of the blank are in fiat folded contact with the bottom portion and a more specific feature of the invention contemplates means, comprising a pair of spring-pressed plungers, for engaging the bottom wall and holding the blank during the setting up operation. A further feature of the invention embodies means, preferably including fingers associated with the plungers, for engaging and raising the side walls and other means at the ends of the blank for raising the end Walls and folding end flaps attached thereto over the end walls and over end portions attached to the side and end walls. The side and end wall raising means are operated in synchronism and in such sequence as properly to fold and inter-engage the end portions and form a secure box in which the side and end walls mutually contribute each to the support of the other. The production of novel mechanism, hereinafter more specifically described, for performing these functions comprises a further object of the invention.

The rectangular blanks to be set up are relatively long and somewhat bowed'or curved from end to end in the magazine and another feature of the invention comprises novel means, preferably in the nature of eccentrically mounted friction rolls, for engaging the bottom blanks of the stack and pressing them downwardly to such position that the bottom blank will be engaged by the blank feeding means and carried to the setting up position. The rolls are operated synchronously with the blank feeding means and in a sequence causing the rolls to rotate downwardly in gripping contact with the blanks as the blank feeding means approaches the stack. The production of novel mechanism for performing this function comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a plan view,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of a plunger and cooperating fingers for holding the blank and raising its side walls,

Fig. 7 is an edge view thereof,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 illustrates the plunger and fingers in blank engaging position;

Fig. 10 is a like view with the parts in a subsequent position, I r

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view like Fig. 5 with the parts in a subsequent position,

Fig. 12 is a like view with the parts in a further subsequent position,

Fig. 13 illustrates the same parts in a still further position,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of a stack of blanks in the magazine,

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional View through the magazine, on line I5l5 of Fig. Zand showing the blank engaging and pressing rolls,

Fig. 16 is a plan view of one of the blanks, illus trating one end flap in open position,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary end view of a blank in partially folded position,

Fig. 18 is a like view with the fold in a subsequent position, and

Fig. 19 is an end View with the fold completed.

The rectangular blank I0 which I have herein illustrated as being set up by the machine comprising the invention embodies a bottom wall l2, two side walls l4 folded flat onto the top face of the wall I0, two end Walls l5, an end flap 16 attached to and folded flat onto each end wall I5 and end portions I8 attached to the ends of the walls I4 and It. The blank is scored along fold lines between the walls l2 and I4, between the Walls [2 and I5, betweenthe end portions I8 and the walls I4 and I5 and between the walls I5 and flaps [6. The bottom wall 12 is cut through at [9 to receive a tab 20 on the flap l6, and each end portion I8 is cut through at 21 and scored at 22.

The blanks are placed in the machine in the flat folded form illustrated in Fig. 2 and are set up by raising the side walls M (Fig. 10) and simultaneously therewith raising the end walls l (Fig. 11). These two functions are so timed that, due also to the cuts 2|, the end portion l8 break on the scored lines 22 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18 and the two halves of each portion 18 come into face to face contact as the end wall is continued upwardly (Fig. 12). The setting up operation is completed by folding the flap l6 inwardly and downwardly over the inner face of the end wall I 5 and the folded end portions 18 and tucking the tab 20 into the cut l9 (Fig. 13). The machine comprising my invention is adapted to receive a stack of blanks I0 and automatically feed the blanks individaully to a setting up position and perform these setting up functions automatically.

The machine is supported on a frame 25 including four corner legs 26 and the blanks are set up on an operating table comprising four horizontal fiat plates 28 on and extending lengthwise of the machine. An upper structure including two plates 39 extending along the sides of the machine is supported on four corner uprights 32. The blanks In to be set up are stacked in a magazine 33 supported on the outermost of the four plates 28 and comprising two pairs of angle irons 34 at each side of the machine. The angle irons are adjustable toward and from each other for magazine width and are supported for this purpose at their bottom ends in slotted plates 36 carried by the frame 25 and at their top ends in slotted plates 38 carried on a rod 40 supported at its ends on the plates 39.

The blanks are fed from the magazine to a setting up position 42 by a platen 43 mounted for sliding movement on and along the plates 28 beneath the magazine. Secured to the bottom face of the platen by screws 44 are two bars 45 each disposed between two of the outermost plates 28. Beneath and secured to the bars by the screws 44 are two plates 41 supported at their outer edges by gibs 46 secured to the two outermost plates 28 by screws 48 and providing guide- Ways for the plates 41 The bars and platen are reciprocated longitudinally of the machine by mechanism including a rod 49 having its ends seated in bearings 59 secured to the plates 41. Mechanism, hereinafter described and including a link 52 connected at one end to an operating arm 54 and at its other end to the rod, is provided for reciprocating the :platen. The machine is driven from a motor 55 through abelt 56 to a shaft 51 in a transmission box 58. A worm 60 on the shaft engages a worm wheel on and drives a main shaft 92 extending transversely across the machine. A link 63 has one end connected eccentrically at 64 to a disc 65 on the far end of the shaft 62 and its other end is connected to a crank arm 66 secured to a shaft 68. Rotation of the shaft 62 operates through the link 63 to oscillate the shaft 68. The arm 54 is fixed to the shaft 68 and has its free end connected to the link 52 whereby to reciprocate the blank feeding platen 43.

The platen 43 is reciprocated from a rearmost position, in which its forward edge is disposed rearwardly at the magazine 33, to the foremost position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The platen is located at the bottom of the magazine and is of a thickness to engage its forward edge with the bottom blank and move the blank from the magazine to the setting up position 42. During such movement the blank passes beneath the horizontal portions of four resilient elements "I0 having vertical portions attached to the rod 40. The forward ends of the elements are turned upwardly at H to provide abutments which, upon return movement of the platen, prevent return movement of the blank.

As illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, the blanks are somewhat bowed or curved from end to end in the magazine and the following described means is provided for pressing the bottom blanks downwardly so that the lowermost blank will be in a horizontal plane and properly located in feeding alignment with the forward edge of the platen. Two shafts 12 are disposed along opposite sidesof and adjacent to the bottom of the magazine. The two shafts are supported at their ends in bearings respectively in the plates 36 and attached to the two rearward magazine plates 34, whereby the spacing of the shafts automatically follows the spacing of the plates 34. Two friction rolls 13 of rubber or the like are mounted eccentrically on each shaft in position to engage the blanks and press them downwardly as the shafts are rotated inwardly toward the magazine. Crank arms 14 fixed to the forward ends of the shafts l2 and extending inwardly toward each other are engaged by downwardly extending links 16 and 71. The shorter link 19 is pinned at 1'8 to the longer link Tl which is slotted longitudinally at '89. A crank arm 8! fixed to the shaft 68 carriers a pin 92 at its free end riding in the slot 80, and a spring 84 connects the pins 18 and 82. Oscillation of the shaft ea operates through this mechanism to oscillate the shafts 12 as will be apparent. The eccentricity of the rolls 73 is such that the rolls press the blanks downwardly when moving downwardly in contact therewith (Fig. 15) and release their pressure upon the blanks upon upward movement. The spring 84 and slot 89 Provide automatically for such lost motion as is necessary to place the required pressure on the blanks. As is apparent in Fig. 1, the rolls 13 are rotated downwardly upon rearward movement of the platen and function to hold the blanks downward a the platen starts its forward movement and removes the bottom blank from the stack.

Disposed above and parallel with the main shaft 62 is a shaft 85 driven at equal speed by a chain 86 engaging two sprockets fixed to the two shafts, and the following described mechanism operated by the shaft 85 is adapted to engage and hold the blank in the setting up position 42 and raise its two side walls l4. This mechanism includes two vertical blank-engaging plungers 81 disposed in spaced relation above and along the blank 19 and means for supporting and operating the plungers and their cooperating mechanism. Each plunger is supported telescopically in a tube 88 in turn supported by two spaced collars 89 and 99 afiixed thereto. The collar 89 is pivotally carried on the forward end of an arm 9| pivoted at its other end to the bottom end of a lever 92. The lever 92 is pivotally supported on a rod 93 extending transversely of the machine and fixed at its ends in the plates 39 and uprights 32. The collar is pivoted to the forward end of a link 94 having its other end pivotally connected at 95 to the forward end of an arm '96 pivoted at its rear end to the top end of the lever 92. Anti-friction rolls 9'! and 98 carried by the arms 9| and 96 are in contact with a cam 99 on the shaft 85 and a spring I90 connects the arm 9I with the pivot joint 95. Thespringserves to maintain the rolls 91 and 98 in contact with the cam. As will be apparent, the-pivot joints 95 permit vertical movementof the tubes 88 by the arms 9| and the collars 90 together with their arms 96 serve to maintain the tubes in vertical position. v.

Each plunger 81 is freely slidable within its tube 88 and is backed up therein-against a compression spring II in contact with a cross pin I02. The lower portion of each plunger is flattened and pivoted to opposite sides thereof are two crank arms having horizontal portions I93 and downwardly extending'portions I 95. The outer ends of the portions I03are pivotally connected by links I01 to the outer ends of arms I09 carried rigidly on the tube 88. Each portion I95 is recessed to provide an open guideway within which is slidably mounted a finger III. Plates II3 close the open faces of the guideways and a shoulder II5 on eachfinger is adapted to contact this plate and thus limit downward movement of its finger. A compression spring II! in each guideway functions normally to force its finger downwardly to this stop position. Rearward swinging movement of the fingers is limited by a stop plate I I9 fixed to theplunger. Rotation of the shaft 85 is adapted to move the plungers 81 downwardly into holding contact with the blank I (Fig. 9) and further downward movement of the tubes 88 relative to the plungers is adapted to swing the fingers outwardly and raise the blank side walls I4 as illustrated in Fig. 10 and hereinafter more specifically described.

The end walls of the blank are automatically raised and folded into supporting relation synchronously with the side walls by the following mechanism which is identical at the two ends of the blank. Each outermost plate 28 is cut away at the ends of the blank setting position 42 to receive end folding members each comprising a fixed portion l2I secured to the -machine by screws I22 and an outer portion I23 hinged to the fixed portion. A vertical guideway I25 is provided on the frame beneath each portion I23 and a block I21 is mounted for reciprocation in each guideway. A link I29 is pivotally connected at I3I to the top end of the block and at I33 to an angular piece I35 rigidly fixed at I36 to the bottom'face of a plate I24 hinged to the outer end of the portion I23. Outward swinging movement of link I29 is limited by an anti-friction roll The blocks I21 are reciprocated in their guideways I25 by the following mechanism. A cam I39 on the main shaft 62 is engaged by an antifriction roll I4I on the free end of an arm I43 fixed to a shaft I45 supported at its ends in the frame 25. A second arm I41 fixed to this shaft is engaged at its free end I49 by a tension spring II anchored at I53 to the frame. The spring normally rotates the shaft clockwise (Fig. 1) to the extent permitted by the cam. Each of two arms I55 fixed to the shaft I45 carries a pin I51 on its free end disposed within avertical slot I59 in a link I6I pivotally connected to a block I21 at I63. A tension spring I 65 connected to the pin I51 and to a pin I61 on the" link normally'maintains the pin I51 at the bottom end of its slot. Upward movement of the arms I55 is adapted to function. through the springs to raise the blocks in their guideways andthe springs and slots permit a required amount of lost motion at the end of the stroke for a purpose hereinafter described.

A housing I69 is provided rearwardly of the magazine for receiving and guarding the platen 43 in its rearmost position and a guard "I for the rearward rolls 13 is supported on the magazine. Two adjustable stops I13 are mounted on the outermost plates 28 in position to be en aged by the end portions I5-I6 of the blank I0 and thus properly locate the blank in the setting up position. It will be noted that these steps are spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the set up box and this spacing permits the completed box I14 to pass therebetween when pushed from the set up position by the forward end portions of two elements I15 pivoted at I11 to the plates 41. Leaf springs I19 normally hold the elements pivoted upwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 but permit them to drop when drawn rearwardly with the platen and bars beneath the blank located at 42.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows. A supply of blanks I0 is stacked in the magazine as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 14. Considering the parts as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 in which the platen 43 is in its foremost position and has just delivered a blank to the setting up position 42, continued rotation of the motor 55 will function to return the platen rearwardly and simultaneously set up the blank at 42. Rotation of the shaft functions through the arms 9| and 96 to drop the plungers 81 and fingers I II into resilient contact with the bottom wall I2 of the blank (Fig. 9). Continued downward movement of the tubes 88, relative to the plungers, swings the fingers outwardly (Fig. 10) and raises the Side walls l4. Simultaneously therewith, and during resilient holding contact of the plunger 81 and fingers I I I with the bottom wall, the cam I39 operates through the shaft I45 and arms I55 to raise the blocks I21 and fold the end walls I5 upwardly (Fig. 11), and continued movement of these parts causes the machine to complete the end folds as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. The plates I2I and I23 are recessed at I8I and I83 (Fig. 13) to permit tucking of the tab 26 into the slot I9 at the end of the forward movement of the blocks I 21, the slots I59 and springs I65 permitting lost motion for this purpose. 1

Simultaneously with the setting up operation the platen is returned to its rearmost position and the rolls 13 are rotated toward each other (Fig. 15) to press the blanks downwardly and place the bottom blank in feeding alignment with the platen which thereupon moves forwardly and feeds another blank to the setting up position simultaneously with the removing of the setting up blank by the elements I 15.

Having thus disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A machine for setting up rectangular box blanks each comprising a bottom wall together with folded side and end walls, comprising a magazine for supporting a stack of said blanks, means for feeding the blanks individually and successively from the magazine along a predetermined path to a setting up position, means for engaging and holding the bottom wall of each blank in saidposition, and means for raising the side and end wallsand including elements operated synchronously therewith for engaging and folding terminal portions of the end walls over the end walls to a position between the side walls and in supporting contact with the inner faces of the end walls while thus holding the bottom wall.

2. The machine defined in claim 1 in which the last named means comprises a plurality of fingers for raising the side walls and other means operated synchronously therewith for raising the end walls and folding said terminal portions over and in supporting contact with end portions of the side walls.

3. The machine defined in claim 2 in which said other means comprises pivoted elements for raising the end walls and includes extensions pivotally attached to said elements for folding said terminal portions over the end walls. Y

4. The machine defined in claim 3 plus a guideway cooperating with each of said pivoted elements, a block movable in each guideway, means associated with the blocks for moving the pivoted elements and extensions in their wall raising and folding operations, and means for moving the blocks beneath both end walls simultaneously.

5. The machine defined in claim 4 plus a link connected to each block beneath and in position to engage and pivot its element upwardly, and means pivoted to each link and attached to the adjacent extension for pivotally moving the extension inwardly in the flap folding direction upon upward movement of the block.

6. The machine defined in claim 5 plus a shaft, means for oscillating the shaft, a plurality of arms fixed to the shaft, and means including links providing operative connections between the arms and blocks for moving the blocks in their guideways, said connections including resilient means providing lost motion between the arms and blocks upon predetermined resistance to forward movement of the blocks.

7. The machine defined in claim 6 plus a shaft, and means driven from the shaft for moving'the blank feeding means, the blank holding and side wall raising means and the blocks in synchronism.

8. The machine defined in claim 1 in which the second named means comprises a plurality of plungers in spaced relation longitudinally of the blank at said position and in which the side wall raising means comprises a plurality of fingers associated with the plungers.

9. The machine defined in claim 8 in which said fingers are pivotally attached to the plungers for swinging movement laterally of the blank, resilient compressible means normally pressing the fingers forwardly, and means for swinging the fingers outwardly beneath the side walls while the plungers are in holding contact with the bottom wall.

10. The machine defined in claim 9 plus tubular means associated with the plungers for moving the plungers into contact with the blank and including resilient moans permitting relative movement between the tubular means and plungers when the plungers contact the blank, and links connecting the tubular means and fingers for pivoting the fingers outwardly upon said relative movement of the tubular means toward the blank.

11. The machine defined in claim 10 plus operating means for each tubular means comprising an arm pivotally connected to the tubular means and anchored for pivotal movement remotely therefrom, and means including a cam operative on the arm between the pivots for reciprocating the tubular means longitudinally.

12. The machine defined in claim 11 plus a second pivotally anchored arm cooperating with the first named arm and the cam at the opposite side of the cam, a link providing a pivotal connection between the tubular means and the second named arm, and a tension spring arranged to draw the two arms toward each other and into cooperation with the cam.

13. The machine'defined in claim 12 plus a shaft, and means driven by the shaft for moving the blank feeding means, the tubular means and the end wall raising means in synchronism.

14. A machine for setting up rectangular box blanks each comprising a bottom wall together with side walls folded flatly thereonto and an end wall portion at each end comprising an end wall panel and a terminal locking fiap integral therewith along a creased line in the blank between the end wall panel and locking flap, com-. prising a magazine for Supporting a stack of said blanks, means for feeding blanks individually and successively from the magazine along a predetermined path, means including mechanical fingers at a portion of said path for engaging beneath and raising the side walls upwardly relative to the bottom wall, mechanical elements operated synchronously therewith for raising the end walls, and means for thereafter folding each locking fiap inwardly along said creased line to a position between the side walls and into interlocking engagement with a slot in the bottom wall adjacent to an end wall.

15. The machine defined in claim 14 in which said fingers and elements are operated simuL- taneously to raise the side walls of the blank upwardly about their junction with the bottom wall simultaneously with said folding upwardly of the end wall panels and in which the last named means folds the locking flap at each end of the blank inwardly of the box between the raised side walls and fiatly against the inner face of the adjacent end wall panel.

16. The machine defined in claim 1 in which the second named means includes a plurality of fingers for engaging and holding the bottom wall at opposite sides of its longitudinal center.

17. The machine defined in claim 16 in which said second named means includes resilient means for holding said fingers resiliently in contact with the bottom wall.

18. The machine defined in claim 1 in which the means for raising the side walls includes a pair of fingers mechanically associated with the second named means.

19. The machine defined in claim 18 in which the fingers are pivotally associated with said second named means.

LOUIS PERILII.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 834,080 Shearn Oct. 23, 1906 1,634,074 Labombarde June 28, 1927 1,765,416 La Bombard et al. June 24, 1930 1,784,571 Bergstein Dec. 9, 1930 1,868,873 Bergstein July 26, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 665 Great Britain 1893 

